Story sourced from Antara Indonesian News Agency
JAKARTA (Antara) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) received a visit from Eswatini King, King Mswati III, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday, to discuss efforts to increase economic cooperation in the health, tourism, infrastructure, and energy sectors.
“This visit is actually a combination of (the king’s) holiday visit, but it is also used by the King of Eswatini to hold a meeting with the president to discuss efforts in increasing cooperation between the two countries, especially in the economic sector,” Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, who was present at the meeting, explained.
Marsudi said that since the last meeting of the two heads of state in 2019, an Indonesian company engaged in the wellness spa health sub-sector has been developing in Eswatini.
She added that the existence of an Indonesian wellness company in Eswatini initiated other forms of cooperation.
“At the meeting, The King of Eswatini said that the wellness spa company in Eswatini plans to import Indonesian cosmetic products,” she stated.
In addition, President Jokowi discussed how the private sector and state-owned enterprises of the two countries can establish a closer partnership.
According to the plan, Marsudi said, the two countries will sign a cooperation agreement to strengthen bilateral relations, especially in the economic field.
“Two foreign ministers (of Indonesia and Estawini) are tasked with preparing the document (for strengthening economic cooperation),” she said.
“Although the talks were brief, they focused on efforts to increase economic cooperation, including in the fields of infrastructure, energy, tourism, and also health,” the foreign minister added.
King Mswati III’s visit to Indonesia this year was not his first one, as he had visited Indonesia in 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2015, and 2019.
At the meeting, Jokowi was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, while King Mswati III was accompanied by Eswatini Foreign Minister Thulisile Dladla.
